Primary Quantitative Methods

Question 1

Questionnaires

Answer 1

A list of questions written down in advance, handed out, posted or emailed. They can have closed or open questions.

Question 2

Advantages of Questionnaires

Answer 2

• Interviewer Effect
• Coding questions makes      
them easier to quantify. 
• They’re reliable as they’re easy to standardise and quick to interpret. 
• Cover a large sample.

Question 3

Disadvantages of Questionnaires

Answer 3

• Anonymity means you don’t know who answered it, if it’s your target population.
• May get a low response rate.
• Question format not as valid as you can’t examine complex issues.
• Questions may impose bias.
• Tick boxes suffer imposition as they measure what the sociologist deems important.

Question 4

Structured Interviews

Answer 4

Researcher reads out a list of pre-prepared closed questions. It is a robotic and passive role for the interviewer.

Question 5

Advantages of Structured Interviews

Answer 5

• Reliable as problems can be discussed.

* Representative as it eliminates a low response rate.

Question 6

Disadvantages of Structured Interviews

Answer 6

• Respondent may experience the interviewer effect and produce answers to please.